Looks like GOG is going to be releasing a new marker to compete with low-end blowbacks. I figured they would go in the other direction.

From GOG's FB page:

Now, the creative minds behind the Shocker and Ion are changing the face of paintball again with the eNMEy™. With a purely pneumatic design, the eNMEy™ is a regulated spool valve marker in the same price range as entry level blowback paintguns.There's no hammer, mainspring or sear in the eNMEy™. You've got to shoot it to believe it," says GOG's Adam Gardner, referring to the smooth performance made possible by the marker's spool valve design. "That's why we're inviting paintball techs from around the world to take the eNMEy™ tech class free of charge at this year's World Cup – and to leave with an eNMEy™ of their own."

Just saw this on Facebook. It looks as though GOG is putting out a new entry level spool valve gun at World Cup this year. Heres what they posted:

Free Tech Class – Free Marker – Dealers, sign up now!

They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but to celebrate the launch of the all-new eNMEyTM full-pneumatic paintball marker, GOG Paintball is providing free tech training and free markers to qualified paintball dealers at this year’s PSP Paintball World Cup.

In 1995 paintball technology was redefined by the release of the Shocker electro-pneumatic paintgun. In 2005, the Ion re-defined the paintball marketplace by bringing the tournament level performance of an electro-pneumatic paintgun into the price range of the average paintball player. Now, the creative minds behind the Shocker and Ion are changing the face of paintball again with the eNMEyTM. With a purely pneumatic design, the eNMEyTM is a regulated spool valve marker in the same price range as entry level blowback paintguns.

“There’s no hammer, mainspring or sear in the eNMEyTM. You’ve got to shoot it to believe it,” says GOG’s Adam Gardner, referring to the smooth performance made possible by the marker’s spool valve design. “That’s why we’re inviting paintball techs from around the world to take the eNMEyTM tech class free of charge at this year’s World Cup – and to leave with an eNMEyTM of their own.”

Availability of the World Cup eNMEyTM tech classes is limited and filling quickly, so reserve your space now by contacting GOG Paintball at 724 520-8690. This offer is restricted to qualified paintball dealers whether or not they currently carry GOG products, and includes training in maintenance, operation and repair of the eNMEyTM, as well as an eNMEyTM marker to use in the class and keep once it is complete (depending on class size and availability, some dealers may receive their free eNMEyTM after the event).

I can see it now, the Automag vs. Autococker wars are now going to be the eNMEy (does anyone else think maybe they mispelled eNEMy?) vs. the Kaos Deluxe. I think it'd be a great shot in the arm for mechanical markers.

EDIT: Come to think of it, it's the eXTCy instead of the ecstasy. So it could be that eNMEy is intentional by design. I'm not sure why, but the pseudo acronym NME bothers me where the XTC does not.

Only thing to worry about is wear of Orings and regulator maintenance.

Why would o-rings or reg maintenance be any different or worse than on a normal Vibe? The difference is the valve, everything else in the gun could be almost exactly the same.

I meant that in a positive manner.I mean compared to current rental fleets that are sear trippers, maintenance of these "Mech Vibes" would be so much easier. No fear of the sear wearing down or bolt orings getting shredded due to the sear.

I gotcha. I thought you meant regular eNVys vs mech eNVys. Yeah, I totally agree. A mech eNVy would be easier to deal with than a Tippmann. I get to deal with all my field's rental Tippmanns every weekend, so if I had to deal with mech eNVys instead, I'd be a much happier person.

Sorry, I should have more clearly stated the 2 distinct thoughts there.

First thought: I hope this new marker is pneu and closed bolt. It's unlikely, but I can dream.

Second thought: It would be nice if GoG gave props to the work of people within the pb community for the idea of a mech ion. Not only Yoda specifically, just the community in general. Ydna made the first one I was aware of, but I'm not even sure he was the first.

Even if all they said was "we noticed the community coming up with pneumatic-only ways to use our markers and thought we'd take our spin at it" or something like that. Just a general acknowledgement that the idea was community driven--that's all.

But why closed bolt? It's not any better than open bolt, and just brings in new obstacles to the situation. I will admit that the closed bolt Ion project intrigues me, but that's because I know what I'm doing with a paintball gun. For someone just getting into paintball, you'll want them to have the most foolproof and easy to use gun they can get. They'll have to use underbored barrels, and having a closed bolt significantly decreases the time allotted to get a paintball in the breech. An open bolt gun is just naturally timed better for grav-fed and other non-forcefeed loaders.

Could be, but it's a bit confusing if so. The Mech Ion conversion is already an enclosed bolt, and there is already an enclosed bolt marker in the low STBB market (The Tippman 98c/A-5/BT-4 type models). If the original commenter wants that, it's already available in a stock or modified manner.

But, giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he's just restating what many of us hope - that they're going to make their own version of the Mech Ion kit.

EDIT: Ninja'd. That's what I get for taking so long to write out a comment.

But why closed bolt? It's not any better than open bolt, and just brings in new obstacles to the situation. I will admit that the closed bolt Ion project intrigues me, but that's because I know what I'm doing with a paintball gun. For someone just getting into paintball, you'll want them to have the most foolproof and easy to use gun they can get. They'll have to use underbored barrels, and having a closed bolt significantly decreases the time allotted to get a paintball in the breech. An open bolt gun is just naturally timed better for grav-fed and other non-forcefeed loaders.

Cuz closed bolt is cool

I'm not saying it would make financial sense for GoG to release it closed bolt as that's not their target audience. I would, however, buy one if that was the case. I want a closed bolt, mech ion and they're out of kits. This would solve that. I'm, admittedly, thinking quite selfishly of my needs and GoG has no reason to cater to them. But, again, I can dream.

Either way, if it is a mech ion this is pretty cool. Since one eventually always brings up patents when discussing the Gardners, it would be interesting to see if Colin Bryant Moritz has anything to say about this new marker: